(366)
¶ O worthi king! benyngne Edward þe laste!
Line 2556
Thow haddist ofte in herte a drede impressid,
Whiche þat þyn humble goost ful sore a-gaste;
And to know if þou cursed were or blessid,
A-mong þe peple ofte hastow þe dressed
Line 2560
In-to contre, in symple array allone,
To herë what men seide of þi persone. [See, among others, "A Tale of King Edward and the Shepherd," in Hartshorne's Metrical Tales (from T. Wright).]
Line 2562
(367)
¶ Al-thogh a kyng haue hábundance of myght [¶ Sapientie. vo [i.e. cap. 6]. Quia non recte iudicas|tis [R. neque custodistis legem iusticie &c.].]
Line 2563
In his land, at his lust knytte & vnknytte,
Good is þat he his power vse ariȝt,
That fro the wey of iustice he ne flitte,
Leste oure lord god hym from his gracë schitte,
Line 2567
Of whom al rightwis power is deryued;
ffor if he doo, of blisse he schal be pryued. [pryved R, preyued H.]
Line 2569
(368)
¶ I fynde how þat Theódorus sireene, [Surcene R. (See Smith's Dict. Greek and Roman Biography. Theodorus 32. Cyrenaicus.)] [¶ Refert va|lerius maxi|mus qualiter Theodorus sirenus cruci|figebatur quia regem de lisemaco arguebat pro suis defecti|bus &c.]
Line 2570
ffor þat he to þe kyng of Lysëmak
Tolde his defautës, þe kyng leet for teene
Crucifie him; and as he heng & stak
Vppon þe croys, þus to þe kyng he spak:
Line 2574
"This peyne, or othir like þer-to, moot falle
Vppon þi falsë counsaillourës [Counsaillours, H, counceilours R.] alle.
Line 2576
(369)
¶ "Nought rekke I thogh I rote an hy or lowe, [lowe R, lawe H.] [folio 44b]
Line 2577
As he þat of þe deth hath no gastnesse;
I dye an innocent, y do the knowe;
I dyë to defendë rightwisnesse.
Thy flatereres, en-haunced in richesse,
Line 2581
Dreden to suffre for riȝt suche a peyne,
But I thereby nat settë resshës tweyne."
Line 2583
